Research Document - 2002/034

The status of yellowtail flounder in NAFO Division 4T in 2001

By G. Poirier and R. Morin

Abstract

Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence groundfish surveys indicate the abundance of yellowtail flounder in NAFO 4T has been fairly stable since 1985 at a level equal to the historical (1971-2001) average. Reported landings of yellowtail have been variable, but since 1995 have been at a fairly high level compared to the mean since 1960. A large landing of 800 tonnes in 1997 coincided with a decrease in the research vessel abundance index for that year and a shift toward smaller fish in the survey. The proportion of small fish in the survey catches remains high, but has been decreasing since 1997. A TAC of 300 tonnes has been imposed on yellowtail landed in the Magdalen Islands since 1998. Catch rates from the commercial fishery and from Sentinel Surveys do not indicate much change from 1997 to 2001. Relative fishing mortalities at length for yellowtail were much higher for 1997 than during 1995-1996 and since 1998.

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